This June I will be completing my own My WALK IT Challenge, raising vital funds for Crohn's & Colitis UK. ⁣ ⁣ For those who don’t know me, or maybe don’t know the reasonings behind my desire to support this amazing charity.... ⁣ ⁣ My name is Megan. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was in my first year of uni studying to become a paediatric nurse. In the summer before I started university, I had abdominal pain, frequent loose stool and significant weight loss. This led to multiple hospital admissions and finally a diagnosis of Crohn’s, followed quite quickly by surgery to remove the affected part of my small bowel.⁣ ⁣ At the time there wasn’t an IBD nurse service in Cornwall, and no real facilitated patient education within the hospital. I felt very isolated and scared. I contacted Crohn’s and Colitis UK who were amazing in educating me about Crohn’s disease and making me feel less overwhelmed. With their advice line and forums to support patients, I learnt about IBD and made contact with other young people with IBD.⁣ ⁣ 18 months ago I perused my desire of becoming an IBD nurse with the goal of eventually providing some local support for paediatric IBD patients, who currently have the majority of their care from Bristol Children’s hospital. ⁣ ⁣ It is such privilege to be able to support, educate, and care for patients who have IBD, whilst having the advantage of understanding the physical & emotional impact IBD has on every patient at some point in their journey. ⁣ ⁣ Crohn’s and colitis UK advocate all patients should have an IBD nurse. They provide Nurse specialist training to nurses throughout the UK so we can best support patients with IBD. This charity also has a very active role in research, which is especially important for future developments and evidence based care. ⁣ ⁣ Crohn’s and Colitis UK not only counselled me as a patient when I was first diagnosed but they are a great resource for us IBD nurses too. ⁣ ⁣ PLEASE sponsor me to WALK IT for Crohn’s and Colitis UK. All donations this charity receives will help nurses like me become experts in caring for patients with IBD, and ensure ongoing support to patients and their families.⁣ ⁣ 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜